Here goes the ceremony. Enjoy and review. We are close to the end, two chapters more and maybe an epilogue.

Thanks Mary for beta reading this chapter.


We were now at Diagon alley in a restaurant. Eating, talking. Well, my sister and Darla were talking, Where was I? I didn't know, but my mind was not with her.

"Did you hear about Jane? " Darla snapped me from my reverie.

"Yes, I was so taken aback! Can't believe she was able to do something like this! Astoria, what do you think?" I was glad my sister's enthusiasm was back. Even if it was for gossip.

"I think I fancy Draco Malfoy."

It had come out of nowhere. I had not even realised what I said before I saw a puzzled look on both faces looking at me.

"I knew it! The kiss! I knew it!" Darla tone was joyful, a radiant smile on her face.

"What kiss?" my sister only managed to say.

We explained it to her, the fake engagement, the neo-deatheaters, the kiss. My best friend embroidered the story a little, I had to correct her many times when she got lost in romantic details which didn't exist.

"When they broke up after the fake engagement, somewhere, deep in their mind they knew they will meet again and see each other with different eyes, lovers' eyes. That's what happen when they kissed."

"What are you talking about! We are friends! Please Daph, don't listen to her, I think she reads too much."

"But you just admitted that you fancy him" Daphné replied to me.

"I said 'I think', I don't know, if you count the times we have been together, it barely adds up a day. But this morning was so great, so pleasant."

"What happened this morning? We can't help you if you keep things from us!"

I leaned myself in the back of the chair, and stopped eating.

"I came to take a book, at home. And I was a little depressed, drinking… or rather trying to drink. And we talked a little about, you know…"-the memories of the attack were still there, and I didn't wanted to speak about this in front of my sister. " so to change my mind, we go try a new broomstick he bought, it goes under sea! We spent the morning together, it was pleasant."

"That explains the smile on your face then. Now you will have to be a true Slytherin. " Darla said to me.

"What?" I hadn't a clue about what she was talking about.

"I mean, to separate Malfoy and Parkinson. You don't have to be afraid to encroach on her territory, you know, to get what you want."

Now I understood what she meant.

"They broke up, I think Pansy didn't appreciate seeing us kissing, and I didn't have the opportunity to explain myself to her." I replied.

"Yeah, right Tori. Like if you see her you are going to apologize for your behaviour and tell her to go back with him, 'cause it didn't mean anything? You can't fool your sister."

She was right, I could apologize, but I would not tell her to get back with him.

"Anyway, when did they break up?" Darla asked, putting her elbows on the table, showing interest in the gossip.

"Draco told me this morning, I don't know."

"Speaking of the devil ..." it was my sister.

"What, Draco is here?" I asked, almost hopefully.

"No, filthy bitch, boyfriend-stealer." Definitely not him.

Pansy and one of her friends stood in front of our table, arms crossed on their chests.

"Excuse me" my tone was bitter, "but I did not steal your boyfriend. What you saw was nothing."

I didn't know what to say to her. I had never been in a situation like this before.

"Yeah, nothing, so why did he end our relation? Can you explain that to me?" She turned to face her friend and added "We are not eating here, the air is somewhat rotten."

She left, letting me alone with my thoughts, what did she mean, he ended it?. I was lost. But Darla and Daphné were not.

"Oh, Tori, you have to be more than stunning tonight, it will be the perfect opportunity to catch him."

What I had just learned was troubling me. I didn't know what to think about it, but in a way I was happy. The ceremony at the ministry would be the ideal occasion to talk with him and see what would happen.

The hour was approaching at quickly. I was ready and clothed with my make up on, but nervous. A little because of him, a lot because of the apprehension I felt when thinking about the last days' events. The ceremony presented us as courageous people. But our reasoning was selfish. I tried to focus on Draco, and what could happen after our meeting tonight.

The ceremony took place in the hall of the ministry. Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley waited to welcome everyone at the entrance.

I greeted them.

"How's your leg?"

I asked Ginny. I didn't want to be inside all on my own. Luke and Darla were coming a little later, after he left his job, not for another 20 mn.

"Fine, thank you."

I stood outside of the ministry, with them, they seemed surprised.

"I don't want to be in there by myself, and I wanted to thank you, Harry, for coming and saving us."

"It's my job, you know," he was rather uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry for your sister." It was Ginny, I smiled lightly at her and decided to change the unpleasant subject.

"How's your season with the Chudley Cannons going?"

"Fine, really. The training is intense, but we started winning games."

"It's a good omen, indeed."

Potter was welcoming some other people while Ginny and I were talking. He joined us after greeting an old couple, and walked them to the door.

Draco chose this moment to appear, resting his hand on my shoulder.

"Malfoy" said Harry politely.

"Scar-head" he replied in the same tone. "Oh the weasel is here too, I didn't notice."

He was rude for no reason, they tried their best to contain themselves but I saw the anger in the eyes of both of them. Ginny placed her hand on her wand, before Harry stopped her.

"There's no need, Gin', don't bother with him." he said slowly, like the words were hurting him.

But this had not stopped Draco, and he went on insulting them. I moved my shoulder so he removed his hand.

"Sweet, really sweet. You gave a name to your little pet. Gin'. A good name for a weasel."

His behaviour was disgusting. He was attacking them and didn't seem ashamed by his behaviour. I was, but unfortunately my parole was gone, I was shocked.

"Malfoy, apologize to Ginny and .. I don't want to fight here, I work here." Harry voice was cold, he said the sentence very carefully, refraining himself of hexing Draco.

"You can't oust me from here, Potter. You know this ceremony is held for me. I'm the hero tonight, and you're a little jealous." Draco smirked at him.

Suddenly I felt an urge to speak, to answer him.

"Oh really, you are the hero? You are just an arrogant, selfish person. If you just do this so that you can shove it in Harry's face, then you are not a hero. You don't behave like a good person."

My voice was rising, he took me by the arm and drove me away from Harry and Ginny.

"What the fucking-" he started, I interrupted him.

"Listen! I don't know why I care about this, but you were ridiculing yourself, in front of everyone. You attack them with no reason! They were trying to be nice with you, bloody hell! You just know how to offend people, be bitter with them. And to think! I came to your defence in school when everyone was saying me that you were an arrogant prat, and I didn't believe them. I don't know why, Malfoy!"

He laughed at me, like my words were just a big joke. I didn't know why I cared about this, why I felt so disappointed by his behaviour.

"Malfoy? What happen to Iceberg?"

"Oh, you want to know why I call you Iceberg? That's why : you hurt people who come too close to you!" I yelled at him. I was being mean, but I didn't care. And I went on.

"Remember Crabbe, or maybe your mother? I thought you were better than that, you disappointed me." I said the last sentence in a whisper.

I knew he felt guilty about Crabbe's death. His mother told me in one of our meetings, I wanted to shock him and it work. He was angry, I saw it, but he didn't say a word. In this moment I saw a flash from a camera, they took a photo of us. I decided it was better if I went inside far from him, far from this stupid reporter.

I was now inside, waiting for the ceremony to start. I didn't know why I felt this way toward him. It's true I never saw him interact with people but his behaviour was unacceptable. He was now acting like nothing happened, being nice with people, fake smile on his face. What a lunatic person. I discovered an other part of the iceberg. He really suited his nickname!

"... Mr Malfoy wants to say some words" It was the minister of magic, I didn't pay attention to the ceremony but apparently, Malfoy was going to give a speech. I hoped that I didn't have to give one as well.

"Thank you, minister. I know I wasn't supposed to talk but someone asked me why I tried to stop the neo-deatheaters. For fame, probably. To make up for some old mistakes I made, certainly" while saying this he revealed his dark mark to a surprised audience. "but mostly because wizards are wizards and when one of us is threatened, it does not matter if his parents are muggles. It only matters to eliminate the threat. "

He was so irritating! Acting bad, acting nice! And answering me in a speech! I knew that the message was directed to me, he was looking straight in my eyes while speaking. But why did he bother? I just insulted him ten minutes before! I only saw the tip of the Iceberg. I was sure of that. Draco Malfoy was a man of surprises. And I liked surprises.